Time to Drop Nick Chubb? Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Outlook (2025)

by Kacey Kasem

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Should I drop Nick Chubb for fantasy football Week 5? Is Nick Chubb a safe player to cut? Read the fantasy football waivers outlook.

In This Article hide

2. Who Should I Pickup for Fantasy Football?

3. Who Should I Pickup Tool

5. More Waiver Wire Analysis

If you want your patience tested, join a fantasy football league. Every season, players you were jazzed to draft aren't living up to expectations. Finally, you get to the point where you wonder if it's worth the hassle. That's where we are with Nick Chubb right now.

The Texans' backfield looked like his job to start the season, but his split with rookie Woody Marks makes his role murkier each week. Joe Mixon's eventual return adds another wrinkle, although it's not clear when he'll make his season debut. Add in Chubb's underwhelming efficiency, and it's hard to justify starting him.

That doesn't mean you should automatically drop him. Context does matter: league size, waiver options, your RB depth, and other factors play a role in determining if you should hold. Let's dive into Chubb's value heading into Week 5 and what waiver wire options are worth grabbing if you're moving on.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

Should I Drop Nick Chubb in Fantasy Football?

Week 4 told us a lot about where things are heading in Houston. Chubb rushed 13 times, but Marks had four more carries. Additionally, Marks received four catches to Chubb's two.

Marks turned those touches into 109 scrimmage yards and two scores. Meanwhile, Chubb ran for just 52 yards and zero touchdowns.

The split isn't the only troubling part, as efficiency has been a major red flag. Chubb is averaging 4.0 yards per carry, but his 1.2 yards after contact is a career low. He's not breaking tackles, and now Marks is making splash plays.

Houston started the season with Chubb as the lead back, while Dare Ogunbowale was on the field for passing downs.

By Week 2, Marks had already overtaken Ogunbowale. In Week 4, Marks outproduced Chubb all-around.

That doesn't mean Chubb has no value. He's still on the field plenty, and with Mixon's return a question mark, Houston will continue leaning on both backs.

#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans specifically indicated that Joe Mixon is not ready to return at this time. Per sources, it will be much longer, if at all, for Mixon to get back on the field this season @KPRC2

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 29, 2025

The Week 5 matchup with Baltimore is a good one, with the Ravens giving up the most rushing yards and fantasy points to opposing RBs. Chubb can be used as a flex in a pinch for Week 5.

He's no longer someone you can trust in your starting lineup. Now, Chubb is a depth piece, not the locked-in RB2 you drafted him to be.

The back is a "hold if you can, drop if you must" type of player. If the waiver wire is barren, stash him. But if you find someone with a clearer path to volume, you can cut ties with Chubb.

Who Should I Pickup for Fantasy Football?

If you're moving on from Chubb or just looking for depth, there are a few backs who could help.

Marks is the obvious hot waiver wire commodity this week. He's already stealing work from Chubb. Marks runs the ball more efficiently and has flashed as a pass catcher.

MAKE IT 2️⃣ FOR THE ROOK 😤

📺: @nfloncbs / @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/MAHDH3j7Zu

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 28, 2025

Posting 119 total yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, Marks will be an integral part of this offense moving forward.

Don't drop Chubb to roster Marks, but if you can move on from someone else, feel free to stash Marks. Even if he doesn't take the job over full-time, he's one injury away from being the lead guy.

Kendre Miller is another interesting name worth monitoring. He remains behind Alvin Kamara, but Miller's been slowly carving out a role.

In Week 4, he logged 11 carries for 65 yards and a TD. His efficiency was on display, going for 5.9 yards per carry.

Great run by Kendre Miller for his first TD of the season -- stumbled and stayed upright, avoided a tackle, and ran in for a score. That was a good drive by the Saints and Rattler.

— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) September 28, 2025

Kamara is still the No. 1 running option, but he's 30 and not the most durable back. If the Saints plan on keeping him fresh, Miller could see more work. For now, he's a deeper-league stash with a path to fantasy-relevancy.

Kenneth Gainwell is another player who should be on your radar. Pittsburgh's trip overseas caught everyone off guard as Jaylen Warren was a surprise inactive.

Gainwell was called to action and dominated, tallying 25 touches and 134 yards while tacking on two scores.

Kenneth Gainwell's best run of the day wasn't one of his 15-yarders. Instead, it was this 5-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

Should have gone for a loss. Stiff-arm to get free (GREAT Aaron Rodgers block), runs through another tackle and stays inbounds. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/uPa7ueBGKH

— Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) September 29, 2025

The Steelers are on a bye in Week 5, so he won't be immediately available, but if Warren were to miss any more time this year, Gainwell instantly has RB2 potential. When Warren returns, Gainwell's performance in Week 4 might have been enough to earn him more work.